The present political situation in Pakistan is deploying the national image on one hand and weakening the political structure on other. I myself have once been one of the supporters of Musharraf policies, but I started lifting my support sometime back. In fact the issues like CJ case, and later the way police misconduct lawyers and the law itself were really intolerable for not only me but for masses.

The situation has divergent effects, i.e. not only the political arena is being disturbed but the whole system including social and economic infrastructure. I’m not sure but having a glimpse of political history of Pakistan, what I’ve found that most of the development in Pakistan is credited to Army rules, but one thing that all Generals have failed to cope with was consistency in policies and behaviors. All of them though participated in the good of nation, by growing economy and improving the standard of living (to some extent) as well, but each time the sudden change in ‘political behavior’ resulted as a demolition of system on one hand and the rule on other.

I’d probably have my say on this issue right after the imposition of emergency in the country, but the banned media and unavailability of authentic information didn’t let me do so. One of the successes that Musharraf government claims to be credited for is the outgrown stock market that has broken almost all the records. It’s fact that the growth in stock market influenced the masses, letting individuals from all spheres to invest and have an eye on financial concerns, i.e. stock, annuities, shares etc. and that was a plus point for the economy as a whole and for corporate and manufacturing sector in particular.

The records are broken once again, but the only difference by this time is the negative impact of emergency on the market. According to the newspaper stories, KSE 100 index lost 635.80 points while KSE 30 index lost 819.35 points. In numbers market recorded a grand loss of 4.07 trillion rupees, and out of 378 registered companies 317 closed in red. Now, what a common man can think of at this time is to get back the possible amount of money, and of course for big investors it’s a matter of great concern.

Not insisting to believe what I say, but it’s sure that the imposition of emergency situation in the country by Musharraf government has impinged on its only success, i.e. the outgrown stock market.

Dawn
Friday, May 26, 2006 Islamabad — President General Pervez Musharraf on Friday renewed his firm commitment to the freedom of press and declared that the government would facilitate access to information.”I am for total freedom of the media, which is the fourth pillar of the state and is the first line of defence in today’s world,” he stated in a wide-ranging address at the 18th awards ceremony of the All-Pakistan Newspapers Society.

Dawn
ISLAMABAD, Nov 3 2007: President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday promulgated two separate ordinances to impose curbs on print and electronic media.

Under the ordinances which amend the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance, 2002, and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, 2002, the print and electronic media have been barred from printing and broadcasting “anything which defames or brings into ridicule the head of state, or members of the armed forces, or executive, legislative or judicial organ of the state”.

Non-compliance of the new curbs is subject to discontinuation of newspaper publication for up to 30 days, and in case of television channels up to three years of jail and Rs10 million fine or both will be imposed on the broadcast media licensee or its representative and their equipment and premises will be forfeited.

The restrictions were announced hours after several leading national and foreign news channels had been taken off air by cable operators.

COAS has set emergency rule in Pakistan, but at the same time it’s reported that the constitution of 1973 has also been dissolved. The point that media is also focusing on is, if there’s no constitution left, how can it be an emergency rule, as it needs to be under some constitution. This sort of emergency is still a question mark for world media, but being Pakistani I know everything is possible in Pakistan.

Let it be emergency or a Martial law, but did we need it, especially at this time. Benazir Bhutto has also paid a mysterious visit to Pakistan and is avoiding having say on the current situation, isn’t it something fishy? Besides that, the main thing is to see what will be the response of Super powers, though they are opposing the decision at the moment.

Just happened to listen to Dr. Shahid Masood, and he says that a single call from Ma’am Condolizza Rice can stop emergency call in the country, but I wonder why would she do so!

Well, let’s see what happens and I’m not sure that this post of mine will be able to go on air!

Well, it was a caution, but you still you crossed the line, so here goes the whole thing I wanted to say!

Military has played a key role in Pakistani politics; regardless of the fact that it was positive or negative. Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, General Zia, and then G.P. Musharraf, all have something in common in the reasons for them to hijack the political arena of Pakistan. According to some experts, those common things were nothing else than their quest for power, but I disagree! And, since I’m not an expert, I don’t insist to take my word as final.

The actual reason for this hijacking of democracy, in my opinion was lack of good democrats. I’m sure; army won’t have intervened in the politics if we’d have some great politicians. Let me justify my say: if the selected or elected leaders were efficient enough they won’t have given the chance to army to peep inside even.

Yes the high command of army might have been corrupt, but tell me the non corrupt ones who had that seat! In fact, many times I’ve come up with the opinion that we’re the most corrupt individuals being the general public who elect those old hyenas again and again. So no one else but the general public is responsible for this hijacking, and the only way to compensate is to be in touch with the situation, ask your leaders for the justification and bring new political characters form round you. That may be you yourself!

It was August 14, 1947 when I took birth; as a third world country at its inception, I grew up with misery of having lack of resources and management, spent my teens struggling for economic, social and political development and ended up my silver jubilee with same tag of third world on my shoulder. Going through 50 golden years and now entering into ‘sweet sixties’ I’m still there with the same tag, though a variety of medals have been rewarded to my armies for being the care takers.

The above Para is not what I want to say but Pakistan! Sixty years of independence mean a lot. Being such a huge time frame, it demands some accountability from all of us to ensure what we’ve done so far and what we ought to do. I’d not mention what my countrymen say about this but my opinion.

To be very clear, I still couldn’t figure out the true essence of ‘freedom’ or independence’. What exactly is the difference between these two terms? Did we get ‘freedom’ or ‘independence’ on August 14, 1947? If it was freedom, are we free? If it was independence, are we independent?

Answering my own questions if it was freedom then we’re not free till yet! The crapy feudal system still exists, we’re still badly involved in ‘caste system’ concepts, and above all a voice attempting to express freedom of thought is still crushed by so called regulators. And if it was independence, we’re still economically dependent on foreign assistance, even being an agricultural country we need to import wheat. We’re also fashion-dependent, so no point for being independent at all!

According to my analysis we’re neither free nor independent, and the day we celebrate is just to fulfill a formality! Probably not everyone will be doing the same but what majority does is the same. I’ve spent six years teaching in some so called elite school systems whereby 14th August used to be celebrated at its best garnished with heart touching national songs and eye catching performances on the same. When I was not a trained teacher, I was never asked by any claimed ‘experienced educator’ to make the young minds pledge on the day to be honest, hardworking and loyal to the homeland, and when I got well trained (having professional education in the field) I was stopped by same experienced ones to do so as it doesn’t look ‘rocking’ on the day! This experience of mine may not be applied everywhere, but you’ll find such practices at a greater extent.

What I want to ask is how many of us pledge to be loyal to the country on this day? I didn’t do it ever! But today, don’t know why I feel I should, so m’ doing it!

Some days back I encountered a technical problem and needed to replace my computer’s RAM; being new in the city I didn’t know much about the Computer stores, so just asked one of my students if he knows any good hardware store. What he told me in reply was though not new but very interesting! He told me about a market where I could get about 5 RAMs just for Rs.50 (less than 1USD), but with no guarantee.

Later on verifying form other sources I found that the market does exist. Not only this single market, but also same sort of markets exist in almost all big cities of Pakistan where the computer hardware, electronic and miscellaneous mechanical products are sold per kilogram. At this one of the interviews of Head of IT Ministry, Dr. Atta Ur Rehman (published in Dawn Education some one year back) glimpsed in my mind, and I realize why Mr. Atta said that he’s going to produce 1500 PhDs in one year. Just imagine, you’re getting technology per kilograms, i.e. laptop, Rs.2000/kg, Hard Disk Rs.60/kg. Now, who the hell can stop you being the leader of IT industry!

Well, I’m not well aware of the policy of Dr Saheb, since we’ve not been briefed about it anywhere in the past and there are no such chances in future as well. Mr. Atta alone cannot be blamed for the whole situation as all this works in a system. And that system comprises of economic policies and social action programs along with planning in educational concerns.

Being specific where to the computer related parts, which are, being sold per kilogram is something of utmost importance with reference to Economy, IT Sector, and of course the ultimate effect on society as a whole. Though a large number of people who are living below the poverty line are associated with this business and this is their only living, does it make any sense of planning? Is this the way we’ll create 1500 PhDs a year? Will this practice lead towards any economic and social development?

I personally don’t know the answers of the questions above but too keen to know the facts. Having some understanding of Economic and Educational Planning, I know that if the black markets for all IT products are caught and banned not only a lot of Federal Revenues will increase but the doors for the production of all this stuff will also be possible with in the country.

We’re still not able to make a computer chip of our own! And all this is because of smuggling of products and accessories through neighboring countries. Control over smuggling and the better use of grants in IT sector can lead towards the home manufacturing of hardware reducing the cost of production and hence a real decrease in prices is possible.

Coming to the effect of this alarming situation on Education sector, if prices of technology decrease, the widespread of it is possible, with which masses can be benefited from the technology. Not at a great extent but imagine if it helps a public school to have a single computer, many children can be benefited from it. It can also reduce the cost of Education if planned well, encouraging more and more people to educate their children.

My suggestions can be ignored or rejected by any Ministry mentioned above in the same way as Insha Jee’s educational reforms were. He was asked to develop his own curriculum and syllabus and he ended up with “Urdu Ki Akhri Kitab (The Last Book of Urdu)”. But poor me! I don’t want to write “Technology ki Akhri Kitab (The Last Book of Technology”.